Grim murders in Atlanta: a podcast revives fear

A Halloween party and a city in fear. From 1979 to 1981, Atlanta's streets were shaken by a series of mysterious and brutal murders that turned the entire city upside down. This is precisely the period explored in depth by the popular podcast Atlanta Monster, created by Payne Lindsey, Donald Albright, and Jason Hoch from Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks. The series takes listeners back to a time marked by panic and distrust when more than 25 African American children and young people were found dead under alarming circumstances. Since its release in 2018, it has renewed attention to a case that continues to fascinate and outrage due to its unsolved mysteries and the system that failed them. Available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, the podcast not only explores the murders in Atlanta but also the deeper injustices in the legal system.

The Wayne Williams case: a controversial conviction

Atlanta Monster casts a sharp focus on Wayne Williams, the young black man who was convicted of two out of the many murders he was suspected of. The series challenges the conviction, which many criticize as a clear miscarriage of justice, and presents alternative suspects, while through in-depth conversations and analysis, it uncovers the consequences in Atlanta's black neighborhoods. Distrust in the police and structural racism came to the forefront and sparked intense national debates, which this podcast tackles. However, critics have pointed out that Atlanta Monster sometimes downplays the lives of the victims by using an overly dramatic 'whodunit' narrative technique and does not sufficiently delve into the racial themes underlying the law enforcement of the time in the USA.

Atlanta Monster: a catalyst for legal dialogue

With over 30 million downloads, Atlanta Monster has had a lasting impact within the true crime genre, and the podcast has won awards such as the Webby Award for 'Best Serialized Podcast' in 2018. Although it has its controversies, Atlanta Monster serves as an essential source for understanding and dialogue about the failures of the justice system and the broader societal consequences it has left behind. In 2021, the case gained renewed attention when the Atlanta Police Department chose to reopen the investigation. The podcast challenges its listeners to reflect on race and justice in America and how these elements are inevitably intertwined in the country's history.

Listen to the first episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify podcasts.apple.com – and follow KrimiNyt for more in-depth true crime analyses.